CIVIL WAR

Bolch/Bolick Cemetery

Just a stone’s throw from Spencer Road in Hickory, NC, a long-abandoned cemetery holds the stories of one of Catawba County’s earliest pioneer families. Overlooked by the daily rush of people passing by, its location is marked only by a few remaining headstones, fieldstones, and occasional American flags. As a local, I’d driven past the Bolch/Bolick Cemetery countless times over the years. Sometimes I was guilty of being a casual passerby. But most of the time I’d slow my car to a crawl, straining my neck to catch a glimpse of the lonely headstones peeking through the brush.

Sheldon Church Ruins

The Old Sheldon Church, once known as Prince William’s Parish Church, stands as a testament to the resilience of South Carolina’s history. Built in the 1750’s in a Greek Revival style, the church has faced destruction multiple times, first by the British during the Revolutionary War and then by General Sherman’s troops during the Civil War. Despite these devastating events, the ruins remain, with the original walls and columns still standing, a reminder of the craftsmanship and the tumultuous history of the region. The site, now a National Historic Landmark and owned by the Parish Church of St. Helena, is open to the public and hosts an annual service, preserving its legacy as a symbol of survival and rebirth in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

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